Disposable surgical instruments

ABSTRACT

A surgical instrument of single piece molded plastic construction is provided. The instrument includes a pair of substantially identical arms connected together for relative pivotal movement by an integral pivot connection and an integral U-shaped spring element located between the arms for normally maintaining the arms and jaw members in an open position. The instrument is provided with integral locking members which interlock upon closure of the arms to hold the jaw members in a closed position. Alternative jaw configurations are provided to allow the instrument to function as a pair of scissors, a needle holder, a hemostat, or a towel clip.

United States Patent Freeborn Nov. 25, 1975 Inventor:

Assignee:

Filed:

Conn.

International Paper Company, New

York, N.Y.

Mar. 22, 1974 Appl. No.: 453,819

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7/1905 Austria 128/321 212,482 4/1967Sweden 128/318 430,945 8/1967 Switzerland. 128/346 836,545 4/1952Germany 128/321 Primary Examiner-Channing L. Pace Attorney, Agent, orFirmFinnegan, Henderson, Farabow & Garrett [57] ABSTRACT A surgicalinstrument of single piece molded plastic construction is provided. Theinstrument includes a pair of substantially identical arms connectedtogether for relative pivotal movement by .an integral pivot connectionand an integral U-shaped spring element located between the arms fornormally maintaining the arms and jaw members in an open position. Theinstrument is provided with integral locking members which interlockupon closure of the arms to hold the jaw members in a closed position.Alternative jaw configurations are provided to allow the instrument tofunction as a pair of scissors, a needle holder, a hemostat, or a towelclip.

14 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet10f33,921,640

F/GI

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,921,640

FIG. /2

US. Patent Nov.25, 1975 sheewofa 3,921,640

DISPOSABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS The present invention relates todisposable surgical instruments and, more particularly, to a surgicalinstrument formed of a single piece of molded, resilient'material.

In the prior art, disposable surgical instruments have been developed ofsingle piece molded plastic construction. The prior art surgicalinstruments have, in general, been unsatisfactory because of therequirement of excessive actuating forces. In addition, the instrumentshave been molded of plastic material which is easily bent to misalignthe instrument components. This problem is a distinct drawback in thecase of a pair of surgical scissors which requires accurate alignment ofthe cutting blades to achieve the desired shearing operation. Further,the material of the prior art surgical instruments have had a relativelylow surface hardness which prevents clamping instruments, such as needleholders and towel clips, from performing efficient gripping opcrations.Two-piece surgical instruments which use a rivot or self-threading screwas a fulcrum have been subject to the same problems. In addition, thetwo-piece instruments have been usually weak at the fulcrum point.

In view of the above drawbacks of the prior art, it is particularlyimportant in the case of surgical instruments of single-piece moldedplastic construction to provide an instrument structure which stronglyresists the tendency to bend while, at the same time, does not requirean excessive actuating force. Furthermore, it is essential to providesurgical instruments of compact structure which facilitate theperformance of surgical operations in areas of limited access.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to providesurgical instruments of single piece molded plastic construction whichare compact in size, easy to assemble and operate, and sufficient instrength to resist bending and avoid misalignment of the instrumentcomponents. A primary purpose of the invention is to provide a basicsingle piece molded plastic structure which may be used for varioustypes of surgical instruments.

In accordance with the invention, a surgical instrument is formed of asingle piece of molded, resilient material which provides a pair ofspaced arms each including an elongated shank portion terminating in ajaw member at its front end and a finger grip section at its rear end,pivot means for connecting the arms together for relative pivotalmovement, and a U-shaped spring element located between the shankportions and connected to the rear ends of the shank portions fornormally biasing the finger grip sections apart to maintain the jawmembers in a normally open position, the jaw members being movabletogether to a closed position upon application of manual pressure on thefinger grip sections. Preferably, the U-shaped spring element includes apair of spring arms connected to the rear ends of the shank portions anda loop portion which joins the spring arms and extends toward the jawmembers of the instrument. A preferred embodiment of the inventionincludes integral locking members formed on the finger grip sectionswhich are cooperable upon closure of the jaw members to interlock andhold the jaw members in a closed position.

The invention also provides a plurality of jaw structures which enablethe basic instrument structure to function as a pair of scissors, needleholder, hemostat or towel clip. The jaw members may be molded indifferent widths, lengths, cross sections or curvatures to suit varioussurgical applications.

The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

Of the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a surgical instrument, e.g., a pair ofscissors, formed of a single piece of molded, resilient material shapedto provide a pair of spaced arms connected together by an integralU-shaped spring element and provided with a pivot connection to join thearms for relative pivotal-movement;

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the surgical instrument of FIG. 1assembled with the U-shaped spring element normally biasing the arms ofthe instrument apart;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken along line 33 of FIG. 1 of the pivotconnection of the instrument;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section, similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the pivotconnection in its assembled configuration;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 of one armof the instrument and the U-shaped spring element;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1 illustratingintegral locking members provided on each arm of the instrument;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2 of thecutting blades of the scissors;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section of an alternative embodiment of the cuttingblades of the scissors including metal inserts provided along thecutting edges;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a pair of jawmembers which enable the instrument to function as a needle holder;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a pair of jawmembers which enable theinstrument to function as a hemostat;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a first pair ofjaw members which enable theinstrument to function as a towel clip;

FIG. 12 is a section view of the jaw members taken along line l2-12 ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side view of a second pair of jaw members which enable theinstrument to function as a towel clip;

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the upper jaw member of the instrument ofFIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a top view of the lower jaw member of the instrument of FIG.12.

FIG. 16 is a side view of a third pair of jaw members which enable theinstrument to function as a towel clip; and

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the upper jaw member of the instrument ofFIG. 16.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is embodied as a pair ofscissors formed from a single piece of molded, resilient material, e.g.,polypropylene. The instrument comprises a pair of spaced arms 20 and 22substantially identical in configuration. Upper arm 20 includes anelongated shank portion 24 terminating in a jaw member or cutting blade26 at its front end and a finger grip section 28 at its rear end whichprovides a finger hole 30. Similarly, lower arm 22 comprises anelongated shank portion 34 terminating in a jaw memher or cuttingblade36 at its front end and a finger grip section 38 at its rear end whichprovides a finger hole 40.

The surgical instrument also includes an integral, U- shaped springelement 42 located between shank portions 24 and 34 of the instrumentarms. Spring element 42 includes an upper arm 44 connected to the rearend of shank portion 24 of instrument arm 20. Similarly, the springelement includes a lower arm 46 connected to the rear end of shankportion 34 of instrument arm 22. Spring arms 44 and 46 are joined by aloop portion which extends forwardly toward the jaw members of theinstrument.

The surgical instrument further includes'pivot means for connecting thearms together for relative pivotal movement. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,the scissors include a pivot connectionv comprising an integrally moldedfulcrum rivet 48 provided on shank portion 24 of upper arm and acorresponding hole 50 formed in shank portion 34 of lower arm 22 forreceiving the rivet.

In the assembly of the instrument, arms 20 and 22 are moved into acrossed configuration (FIG. 2) and rivet 48 is inserted into hole 50. Ahead 51 (FIG. 4) is then formed on the outer end of the rivet by heat orultrasonic treatment to join the arms together for relative pivotalmovement.

As shown in FIG. 2, U-shaped spring element 42 normally biases fingergrip sections 28 and 38 apart to maintain jaw members 26 and 36 in anormally open position. When it is desired to operate the surgicalinstrument, an operator inserts his fingers into finger holes and andapplies manual pressure to finger grip sections 28 and 38 to move theinstrument arms together and close jaw members 26 and 36.

Finger grip sections 28 and 38 are provided with integral lockingmembers 52 and 54, respectively, which permit the instrument to belocked in a closed position. Referring to FIG. 6, locking members and 52are provided with lateral teeth which interlock upon complete closure ofarms 20 and 22 to hold jaw members 26 and 36 closed. The arms can bereleased by bending the finger grip sections laterally, in oppositedirections, to disengage the teeth of the locking members.

Referring to FIG. 7, each jaw member or cutting blade of the scissorsincludes a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface. Cuttingblade 26 includes an upper, cutting edge 56 having a bevel between 2 and5 to the horizontal. Similarly, cutting blade 36 includes a lower,cutting edge 58 also having a bevel between 2 and 5 to the horizontal.The purpose of the bevel is to provide a sharp cutting edge to allowcutting blades 26 and 36 to perform a shearing action as the blades passeach other during closure of the surgical instrument.

In an alternative embodiment of the scissors, an elongated metal insertis provided along the cutting edge of each cutting blade. A shown inFIG. 8, cutting blade 26 can be provided with an elongated metal insert60 along its upper edge and cutting blade 36 is provided with anelongated metal insert 61 along its lower edge. The metal insertsprovide sharp cutting edges which allow the instrument to perform thedesired shearing action.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modification of the jaw members which permits thesurgical instrument to function as a needle holder. In this embodiment,a lower jaw member 62 has a cross section gradually increasing in widthto provide a substantially flat top surface. A longitudinal recess 63extends along the top surface of lower jaw member 62. Similarly, anupper jaw member 64 hasa' cross section gradually increasing in width toprovide a substantially flat bottom surface. An elongated protrusion 65extends downwardly from the bottom sur-. face of upper jaw member 64which mates with longituw dinal recess 63 upon closure of the instrumentarms. In

operation, a suture needle 66 clamped between the jaw members is held ina manner similar to a beamsupported at spaced points with a center load.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the jaw members which enables theinstrument to function as a hemostat. In this embodiment, upper andlower jaw members 67 and 68, respectively, are similar in cross sectionto jaw members 62 and 64 of FIG. 9. Jaw members 67 and 68 are providedwith a plurality of teeth 70 which intermesh upon closure of the jawmembers to provide a clamping function useful to reduce or prevent bleeding in surgical operations.

FIG. 11 illustrates an additional embodiment of the jaw members whichenables the surgical instrumentto function as a towel clip. In thisembodiment, the upper jaw comprises an elongated blade 74 which includesa plurality of wedge-shaped teeth 76 formed alongits lower edge.Similarly, the lower jaw comprises an elongated blade 78 provided with aplurality of wedge shaped teeth 80 along its upper edge which intermeshwith teeth 76upon closure of the jaw members to clamp a towel or similararticle. As shown in FIG. 12, teeth 76 and 80 are provided with alateral 45 bevel on the right-hand side of the teeth.

FIG. 13 illustrates a further embodiment of the jaw members whichenables the surgical instrument to male and female mating surfaces forholding a towel or other similar article therebetween upon closure ofthe jaw members. Upper clamping element 86 includes a male surfacepattern in the form of a plurality of radially extending ribs 94 (FIG.14) which mate with a fe- A male surface pattern in the form of aplurality of corresponding radially extending recesses 96 (FIG. 15)formed in lower clamping element 92 to enable the jaw members to gripthe towel or other article.

FIG. 16 illustrates another embodiment of the jaw members which enablesthe surgical instrument to function as a towel clip. In this embodiment,the upper jaw member comprises a forwardly extending rod 102 providedwith a vertical portion 104 which supports an upper clamping element106. Similarly, the lower jaw member comprises an elongated rod 108provided with a vertical portion 110 which supports a lower clampingelement 112. As shown in FIG. 17, each clamping element has anoval-shaped surface provided with a diamond-shaped pattern of fine teethwhich mate with the teeth of the other clamping element upon closure ofthe jaw members to hold a towel or other similar article therebetween.In addition, the upper jaw member includes an elongated, integral rib114 extending downwardly from rod 102. Similarly, the lower jaw memberincludes an elongated, integral rib 116 extending upwardly from rod 108in alignment with rib 114 of the upper jaw member. The ribs move intoclamping engagement with the towel or similar article upon closure ofthe jaw members to assist in holding of the towel or similar article bythe towel clip.

It is contemplated that the jaw members may be molded in various widths,lengths, cross sections or curvatures to suit other surgicalapplications. For example, it is contemplated that other surgicalinstruments such as clip-retaining forceps, sponge forceps, and tubingclamps can be constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificdetails shown and described, and modifications may be made in thedetails of the surgical instruments without departing from theprinciples of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A surgical instrument formed of a single piece of molded, resilientmaterial which provides a pair of spaced arms each including anelongated shank portion having a front end terminating in a jaw memberand a rear end provided with a finger grip section, pivot means forconnecting said arms together for relative pivotal movement, and anintegral U-shaped spring element located between said shank portions andconnected to said rear ends of said shank portions for holding said armstogether in an unassembled configuration of the surgical instrument,said spring element normally biasing said finger grip sections apart inan assembled configuration of the surgical instrument to maintain saidjaw members in a normally open position, said jaw members being movabletogether to a closed position upon application of manual pressure onsaid finger grip sections.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein:

said U-shaped spring element includes a pair of spring arms connected tosaid rear ends of said shank portions with a loop portion joining saidspring arms and extending toward said jaw members.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, which includes:

integral latching members formed on said finger grip sections andcooperable upon closure of said jaw members to hold said jaw members inthe closed position.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein:

said jaw members are provided with adjacent cutting edges which movepast each other upon closure of said jaw members to perform a shearingaction.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein:

each of said jaw members includes an elongated metal insert providedalong its cutting edge.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein:

one of said jaw members includes a longitudinal recess and the other ofsaid jaw members includes an elongated protrusion which mates with saidlongitudinal recess upon closure of said jaw members for clamping asuture needle therebetween.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein:

said jaw members are provided with a plurality of teeth which intermeshupon closure of said jaw members to provide a hemostat.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein:

each jaw member includes a clamping element provided with matingsurfaces for holding a towel-like article therebetween upon closure ofsaid jaw members.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein:

each of said jaw members comprises a blade having an elongated edgemovable into engagement with the corresponding edge of the other bladeupon closure of said arms, said blade having a plurality of wedge-shapedteeth formed along its elongated edge which intermesh with thecorresponding teeth on the other blade to clamp a towel-like article.therebetween, said teeth being provided with a lateral bevel.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the lateral bevel ofsaid teeth is 45.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein:

said U-shaped spring element maintains said arms in a spaced, parallelrelationship in the unassembled configuration of the surgicalinstrument.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein:

each elongated shank portion includes an enlarged contact surfaceadjacent to the jaw member at the front end thereof for engaging thecorresponding enlargedcontact surface on the other elongated shankportion; and

said pivot means is located at said enlarged contact surfaces on saidelongated shank portions.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein:

said pivot means comprises a rivet projecting from one of said contactsurfaces and a hole formed in the other contact surface for receivingsaid rivet.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein:

each elongated shank portion has a cross-section substantially in theshape of an ellipse with its major axis oriented perpendicularly to thepivot axis of the instrument; and

each of said spring arms has a cross-section substantially in the shapeof an ellipse with its major axis oriented in a direction parallel tothe pivot axis of the instrument.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CETIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No.3,921,640 Dated November 25, 1975 Inventor(s) John O. Freeborn It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 13 should be corrected. to be dependent from claim 12.

igned and Scaled this twenty-seventh Day of April 1976 [SEAL] Arrest.-

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (mnmissimwr nj'latcnlsand Trademarks

1. A surgical instrument formed of a single piece of molded, resilientmaterial which provides a pair of spAced arms each including anelongated shank portion having a front end terminating in a jaw memberand a rear end provided with a finger grip section, pivot means forconnecting said arms together for relative pivotal movement, and anintegral U-shaped spring element located between said shank portions andconnected to said rear ends of said shank portions for holding said armstogether in an unassembled configuration of the surgical instrument,said spring element normally biasing said finger grip sections apart inan assembled configuration of the surgical instrument to maintain saidjaw members in a normally open position, said jaw members being movabletogether to a closed position upon application of manual pressure onsaid finger grip sections.
 2. The surgical instrument of claim 1,wherein: said U-shaped spring element includes a pair of spring armsconnected to said rear ends of said shank portions with a loop portionjoining said spring arms and extending toward said jaw members.
 3. Thesurgical instrument of claim 1, which includes: integral latchingmembers formed on said finger grip sections and cooperable upon closureof said jaw members to hold said jaw members in the closed position. 4.The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein: said jaw members areprovided with adjacent cutting edges which move past each other uponclosure of said jaw members to perform a shearing action.
 5. Thesurgical instrument of claim 4, wherein: each of said jaw membersincludes an elongated metal insert provided along its cutting edge. 6.The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein: one of said jaw membersincludes a longitudinal recess and the other of said jaw membersincludes an elongated protrusion which mates with said longitudinalrecess upon closure of said jaw members for clamping a suture needletherebetween.
 7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein: said jawmembers are provided with a plurality of teeth which intermesh uponclosure of said jaw members to provide a hemostat.
 8. The surgicalinstrument of claim 1, wherein: each jaw member includes a clampingelement provided with mating surfaces for holding a towel-like articletherebetween upon closure of said jaw members.
 9. The surgicalinstrument of claim 1, wherein: each of said jaw members comprises ablade having an elongated edge movable into engagement with thecorresponding edge of the other blade upon closure of said arms, saidblade having a plurality of wedge-shaped teeth formed along itselongated edge which intermesh with the corresponding teeth on the otherblade to clamp a towel-like article therebetween, said teeth beingprovided with a lateral bevel.
 10. The surgical instrument of claim 9,wherein the lateral bevel of said teeth is 45*.
 11. The surgicalinstrument of claim 1, wherein: said U-shaped spring element maintainssaid arms in a spaced, parallel relationship in the unassembledconfiguration of the surgical instrument.
 12. The surgical instrument ofclaim 1, wherein: each elongated shank portion includes an enlargedcontact surface adjacent to the jaw member at the front end thereof forengaging the corresponding enlarged contact surface on the otherelongated shank portion; and said pivot means is located at saidenlarged contact surfaces on said elongated shank portions.
 13. Thesurgical instrument of claim 13, wherein: said pivot means comprises arivet projecting from one of said contact surfaces and a hole formed inthe other contact surface for receiving said rivet.
 14. The surgicalinstrument of claim 2, wherein: each elongated shank portion has across-section substantially in the shape of an ellipse with its majoraxis oriented perpendicularly to the pivot axis of the instrument; andeach of said spring arms has a cross-section substantially in the shapeof an ellipse with its major axis oriented in a direction parallel tothe pivot axis of the instRument.